The Y--Adventure Guide and Adventure Princess program was developed to support parents' vital role as teachers, counselors and friends to their children. The program was developed in 1954 by Harold Keltner (the YMCA director) and Joe Friday (an Ojibway Indian). Keltner was inspired by his experiences with Joe Friday, who was his guide on hunting and fishing trips into Canada. It was after these trips that Keltner established a program of parent--child experiences that now involves several hundred thousand children and adults annually in the YMCA. The YMCA of Metropolitan Little Rock has served the Little Rock community for 128 years, and the Adventure Guides and Adventure Princess program is one of the oldest in the country. Beginning in the 1960s, our YMCA has a long history of connecting fathers and their children and creating lifelong memories.

PROGRAM PURPOSES

THE ADVENTURE GUIDES AND ADVENTURE PRINCESSES PROGRAM SETS A FOUNDATION FOR POSITIVE, LIFELONG RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FATHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN. WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK FOR FAMILIES TO MEET A MUTUAL NEED OF SPENDING ENJOYABLE, CONSTRUCTIVE AND QUALITY TIME TOGETHER. THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES THE VITAL ROLE THAT A PARENT PLAYS IN THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CHILD. THE ADVENTURE GUIDES AND ADVENTURE PRINCESS PROGRAM STRESSES THE YMCA CORE VALUES OF CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE PARENT-- THE GUIDE-- SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR CHILD WHILE TEACHING THEM VALUABLE LESSONS

CHILD-- THE EXPLORERS-- SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH YOU WHILE LEARNING FROM EXAMPLE

TRIBE / CIRCLE-- THE COMMUNITY-- OTHER FATHER / CHILD PAIRS TO HELP CREATE A SENSE OF BELONGING

1. APPOINT LEADERSHIP-- THE CHIEF IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE TRIBE / CIRCLE AND VITAL TO THE TRIBE / CIRCLE RECEIVING PROGRAM INFORMATION, UPDATES, ETC. THIS SHOULD IDEALLY BE SOMEONE WHO IS FAIRLY ORGANIZED AND WHO IS NOT ALREADY ON SCHEDULE OVERLOAD. NOTE-- THIS INDIVIDUAL WILL BE ASKED TO ATTEND LONGHOUSE MEETINGS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR (NOT TO EXCEED ONE HOUR IN LENGTH). 2. SELECT A CIRCLE NAME-- SOME EXAMPLES ARE NATCHEZ, THE FUN GIRLS, THE SPARKLING DOLPHINS, ARKANSQUAWS, BRUINETTES, ARKANSCOUTS, ETC. 3. SELECT FATHER / DAUGHTER AND FATHER / SON NICKNAMES-- SOME EXAMPLES ARE CAT DADDY AND PRINCESS AMERICA, TIGER DADDY AND TIGER BELLA, BIG BEAR AND LITTLE BEAR, FALLING STAR AND SHOOTING STAR, ETC. 4. CREATE A CHEER OR TRIBE JINGLE-- OPTIONAL 5. CREATE OR SECURE TRIBAL PROPERTY-- SEE EXAMPLES ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE. (CAN BE DONE AS AN ACTIVITY AT A TRIBAL MEETING) 6. SELECT TRIBE ATTIRE-- TYPES OF VESTS, ETC. VESTS CAN BE PURCHASED AT: TANDY LEATHER RETAIL STORES, L.L. BEAN, EDDIE BAUER, ONLINE, ETC. http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/61388?feat=503348--GN2&page=kids--trail-model--fleece--vest http://www.thepatchstore.com/shopdisplaycategories.asp?id=23&cat=Vests http://www.sbearstradingpost.com/YMCAindians.html#VESTS http://www.craftkits.com/c--9--vests.aspx